The Under-18s were a little unfortunate to have lost to a strong Aston Villa side that had won both the FA Youth Cup and their Youth Academy Under-17 League last season. Hammers had only themselves to blame for not taking the lead in the first-half. They got the ball into the Villa penalty-area on several occasions but failed to take advantage of the chances created. Ollie Allen had a couple of shots well-saved by Villa's Austrian 'keeper Robert Olejink and on 34 minutes Hogan Ephraim's 20 yard shot was just deflected wide of the target. Villa took the lead on 50 minutes when Agbonlahor, who scored one of the goals that knocked the Hammers out of the FA Youth Cup last season, cut in from the left of the penalty-area to fire the ball past Matthew Reed. West Ham almost equalised in the 77th minute when a corner taken by substitute Ishmael Welsh-Elliott was cleared only as far as David Cowley. He crossed to the far post where Darren Blewitt managed to direct a fine header past the Villa 'keeper but the ball rebounded off the crossbar.

Academy Manager, Tony Carr, said: "The result doesn't tell the full story. We played better this week than we did when we beat MK Dons the week before. We were playing against a quality side and for long periods getting the better of them, but we missed some good chances. Blewitt hit the crossbar, and Jemel Henry in the defence was steady and strong. It was a better overall team performance from us."

The Under-18s gained their fourth away win in a row, although just before half-time only a excellent double save by Darren Behcet prevented Fulham from taking the lead. The Hammers started the second-half with Mark Noble firing a left foot shot just over the bar and then on 52 minutes they took the lead with an excellent goal. Kyle Reid put Danny Bunce through and his low cross was laid back first time by Tony Stokes into the path of Mark Noble who drove a right foot shot low into the corner of the net from the edge of the box. After that West Ham pretty much dominated the game, and on 65 minutes another excellent goal saw them double their lead. A flick-on put Kyle Reid through and he thundered home an unstoppable left foot shot via the underside of the bar. Tommy Laws then headed over from an Ashikodi cross as the Hammers continued to press, but it was Fulham who nearly had the final word when Chris James fired in a left foot shot which Behcet brilliantly turned aside.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory that obviously pleased Tony Carr, who wished the team could transform their away form to Little Heath, where they had only picked up one point from their four home games.

An injury-time winner from Moses Ashikodi sealed all three points for the Hammers in a dramatic 4-3 victory over Crystal Palace. The Hammers surrendering a 3-0 second-half lead to the home side, before grabbing a last gasp winner. The match started evenly, with neither side able to take control of proceedings, but it wasn't until the 40th minute that the contest really sparked into life, when a touchline clash between Densal Davidson and a Crystal Palace defender saw both players sent-off. The sending-off opened up the game, and two minutes before half-time West Ham took the lead. Striker Tony Stokes was bundled over in the area and dispatched the resulting penalty himself. The Hammers came out for the second-half full of confidence, and were 2-0 ahead after 57 minutes. Hogan Ephraim's free-kick was headed back across goal by Liam White, and it was Stokes who was again on the spot to head home from close range. Three minutes later Stokes was again involved in the goal, receiving the ball from Danny Bunce and firing in an effort, which the Eagles 'keeper could only parry into the path of Ishmael Welsh, who duly swept the ball home, 3-0 West Ham. On 68 minutes a determined home side pulled one back and six minutes later they made it 3-2 after a low cross into West Ham's penalty area looked to be turned home by the foot of a Hammers defender. And just four minutes later a remarkable Eagles comeback was completed when Palace equalised through Gabban's near post drive, to stun the young Hammers. Deep into injury-time Ashikodi received the ball on the half-way line, powered away from the Palace defence, shrugged off a last-gasp challenge and drilled home a dramatic winner for Tony Carr's side.

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Tony Carr's Under-18 side recorded their second successive win with a magnificent 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Little Heath. An own goal in the first-half and a Hogan Ephraim second-half strike were enough to secure the points in a hard-fought London derby. The Hammers started brightly and took the lead after 21 minutes. A short corner routine worked between Ishmael Welsh and Ollie Allen saw the ball swung in to the near post, where Arsenal defender Aaron Samuel inadvertently glanced into his own net. At the other end, Hammers goalkeeper Darren Behcet had to be alert, rushing out to block at the feet of Arsenal front-man, Anthony Stokes, to send the Hammers in 1-0 up at the break. Tony Carr"s team came out for the second-half with fresh determination, and on the hour mark a Moses Ashikodi drive was fortuitously deflected wide. The resulting corner was swung in and appeared to be cleared with ease by the Gunners defence. But the referee immediately stopped play, having spotted a foul by Arsenal goalkeeper Michael Jordan on Hogan Ephraim. Despite the visitors' protests a penalty was awarded. Ephraim stepped up to take the kick himself, planting it low and left. But Jordan guessed right and got down to make the save. The ball squirmed loose in the box, and Hammers striker Ephraim reacted quickest to stab the ball home and put the home side 2-0 up. However, just three minutes later the roles were dramatically reversed when Arsenal's Fabrice Muamba went down in the West Ham penalty area, and the referee awarded a debatable spot-kick. Jay Simpson stepped up for the Gunners, but blasted his effort over the bar.